“A very good low price hotel”
The room was comfortable, clean and quiet, the continental breakfast was excellent, the staff was friendly, the subway was within walking distance, and the price was right. There were really only two problems: there was no view to the outside since the window gave onto a very small courtyard, and the smell in the bathroom was quite unpleasant ( it seemed like a mixture of disinfectant smell and sewer smell, the bathroom itself was always very clean). I delt quite successfully with the unpleasant smell by always keeping the bathroom door closed.
I would definitely recommend this hotel for anyone wanting good value for money.
Area recommendations
I spent 12 days in Mexico City. I particularly enjoyed the historical centre, the Museum of Anthropology, Chapultepec park, the University, Coyoacan, the many museums and other sites containing murals of Diego Rivera and others. Travelling by subway is easy and quite cheap. I also walked a lot. I am a middle-age woman and never felt unsafe. People on the streets and in the subway are very friendly and helpful. However, anyone travelling on their own would greatly benefit if they know some Spanish, because most people cannot speak English.
When to go
I went to Mexico City in mid-September. The streets were very crowded the first weekend because they had just celebrated their National holiday. After that, there were few tourists. Before my departure from Canada, the weather forecasts on the web always mentioned rain. In reality, it was always sunny till about 3:00 pm when it looked like it was going to rain any minute: in fact, it only rained three times, and each time for less than an hour. So, I would say that Sept. - Oct. is the right time to go; the daytime max. temperature was always 22 - 25 degrees C, quite comfortable.
Getting there
Look for specials, you may be able to find much cheaper airfares if you forego a non-stop flight.
Getting around
After Mexico City I visited other cities within a 200 km radius. First class bus service is outstandingly good, buses are very frequent, inexpensive, and depart at the advertised times. There are several bus terminals, but one can often find buses going directly to and from the Mexico City international airport, bypassing the problem of having to transfer from one terminal to another when visiting several cities.
Must see
Do not miss visiting the Zocalo, the cathedral and the National Palace in the historical centre. Also, if you are at all interested in ancient civilizations, go to the Anthropological Museum and make a day trip to Teotihuacan. On a sunny Sunday afternoon, walk in Chapultepec Park, enjoy the sight of the Mexican families, and visit the castle. The most accessible Diego Rivera mural is in a dedicated museum in Alameda Park, you should see this to get a feel for that great art.
